Saturday, May 30, 2015

I was recently nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award by Laura W. at Blue Eye Books. Thank you so much for the nomination, Laura W.!! It's always wonderful to be recognized by my fellow bloggers.Here are the rules for the Blogger Recognition Award:

1. Thank whoever nominated you, and provide a link to their blog.

2. Write a post to show off your award! Give a brief story of how your blog got started, and give a piece or two of advice to new bloggers.

3. Select 15 other blogs you want to give the Blogger Recognition Award to and let each blogger know you've nominated them for this award.How I Started My Blog:I had always wanted to start a blog of my own. So, in the Fall of 2011, I started thinking more seriously about the topic of blogging and what kind of blog I wanted to write/keep. I knew that I didn't want to keep a random blog about everything and anything... It had to be about a specific topic. I love to read books, but didn't want my blog to be solely about the books I'd read and reviewed. So, I expanded the idea to all thinks 'book related', which I define in many ways to include the following and then some:Book reviews of the books I've readBook/Reading QuotesReviews of the Indie Bookstores I visitAuthor signings/Book festivals I attendRead-A-Thons/Reading ChallengesWorld Book NightAuthor SpotlightsBook Award WinnersNewsworthy items pertaining to authors, books, libraries, etc.Book MemesBasically anything to do with reading, books, authors, libraries, etc.Coming up with a blog name was an entirely more difficult task because all the blog names I initially wanted to use were already taken!! Thank goodness, Captivated Reader, wasn't taken! 'Captivated Reader' suits me just perfectly as I love being captivated by a well written and absorbing book.So, once I decided a topic for my blog and a blog name, I made my first blog post January 1, 2012! The rest is history as they say.Blog Advice:I don't really have any hard and fast rules about blogging. I'd recommend choosing to blog about something you are passionate about and/or know a lot about already. And try sticking to a specific theme for your blog, so that your readers know what your blog is about.Keep blogging fun for you. Don't feel like you have to post daily if that isn't something you want to do or don't have time to do.Don't expect overnight success with your blog. I've been blogging for almost 3.5 years now and it took awhile for followers to join.Interact with other bloggers, especially if these bloggers write about the same topic as you.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

This week I wasn't planning on adding anymore books to my already ginormous stacks of books waiting to be read by yours truly. However, this idea quickly fell by the way side when I visited a local used bookstore that was having a blowout Memorial Day book sale this past weekend. Several large areas of used paperback books were on sale for a dollar a piece. I ended up walking away with five used paperback books to add to my collection.Below are the books I've added to my ever growing reading collection this week:Eucalyptus by Murray BailScot On The Rocks by Brenda JanowitzGetting Over Jack Wagner by Elise JuskaDating Big Bird by Laura ZigmanGalileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love by Dava Sobel

Plus, I downloaded several eBook freebies from Amazon to my Kindle this past week... Too many book titles to recall and share now! I admit it, I am book addict!!

What did you pick up this week to read or add to your reading wishlist??

Thursday, May 28, 2015

I read the eBook version of Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske in a matter of a couple of hours. Eat, Play, Lust is a novella and is approximately 68 pages in length. I downloaded it for free to my Kindle from Amazon's website. Below is my honest review Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske.First off, I'd to start by stating that I love the cover art for Eat, Play, Lust!! Secondly, I'd like to say that Tawna Fenske is a new author to me and I enjoyed reading her writing very much. Eat, Play, Love is a cute, well developed romantic comedy that I enjoyed reading from start to finish. The characters of Paul and Cami are fun and refreshing. I liked the humor that these two characters share between them. I also enjoyed seeing how their budding romance develops throughout Eat, Play, Love. The following is a summary for Eat, Play, Love by Tawna Fenske from Amazon's website:

Cami Pressman is a yoga instructor with a lifelong secret love of junk food. Not even an irresistible man can replace the mouthwatering wickedness of her favorite foods.

Until, that is, Paul Hammond signs up for her class. He’s a gourmet chef looking to score some fitness tips, and a date with Cami. Suddenly Cami’s lust for junk food isn’t the only thing making her tingle.

When this sinful chef and hot yoga teacher eat, play, and lust together, they just might bring their obsession to a new level.

I am giving Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars!Until my next post, happy reading!

I recently read the eBook version of The Russian's Stubborn Lover by Leslie North. This is a novella approximately 117 pages in length. I was able to download this novella for free to my Kindle and read it within a couple of hours or so. Below is my honest review of The Russian's Stubborn Lover by Leslie North.I really enjoy reading novellas because they are the perfect way to become acquainted with new authors and/or new genres. In this case, Leslie North is a new to me author.I was initially attracted to The Russian's Stubborn Lover by Leslie North because I liked that it is romance novella and is set in Russia... Being a free novella didn't hurt either!The Russian's Stubborn Lover by Leslie North is the first in the The Fedosov Family Series. It is a quick and predictable read filled with likable characters.

I felt that the characters and storyline of The Russian's Stubborn Loverwere not well developed enough for my tastes. It would have been more satisfying to see the romantic relationship between Julia and Demitry build over time, instead of the near 'instant relationship' that they developed in this short length novella. I would have also enjoyed more exciting erotica scenes than the one and only one that was touched upon in this novella.

The ending of The Russian's Stubborn Lover was abrupt. I dislike cliffhanger endings!! I wanted to see Julia and Demitry become engaged by the end of The Russian's Stubborn Lover. I also wanted to see another pesky co-worker of Julia's get his comeuppance, but that never happened in The Russian's Stubborn Lover either!

The following is a summary for The Russian's Stubborn Lover by Leslie North from Amazon's website:

The Fedosov Family was all business until Julia Thompson came along.After meeting in a nightclub in America and sharing a passionate kiss, Julia was the last person Demitry Fedosov expected to see in his boardroom back in Russia - especially after she turned down his advances.Julia has never been one to let others push her around. She didn’t need the complication of a relationship with Demitry, now or in the future. After being sent to Russia on an exchange trip, she was his employee and he was her boss. End of story. Yet she can't stop thinking about his deep gray eyes and the way his 6'6" figure dwarfs her. She feels such an attraction to him, but she knows she must fight it.Demitry is business orientated, reserved, always following in his father’s footsteps and way too serious most of the time. He was not used to having women in his business world unless they were secretaries. Julia has made it clear she doesn't want a relationship with Demitry but he can't hold back the feelings he gets when she is around. She was so different to Russian women, and winning her over is turning out to be more challenging than any business deal.The American woman pushed all his buttons, and when his brother, Alexey, starts to flirt with her Demitry feels an overwhelming urge to stake his claim.

I am giving The Russian's Stubborn Lover by Leslie North a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.Until my next post, happy reading!!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

I received an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of Duplicity by N. K. Traver for free through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review. Below is my review of Duplicity by N. K. Traver.

First off, I love the cover art for Duplicity. It's very eye catching and one of the things that first drew my attention to this novel. Secondly, I enjoy reading young adult novels from time to time, so the fact that Duplicity falls into the young adult genre was also appealing to me. And thirdly, the storyline and characters for Duplicity sounded intriguing, so looked forward to reading it.

A computer-hacking teen. The girl who wants to save him. And a rogue mirror reflection that might be the death of them both.

In private, seventeen-year-old Brandon hacks bank accounts just for the thrill of it. In public, he looks like any other tattooed bad boy with a fast car and devil-may-care attitude. He should know: he's worked hard to maintain that façade. With inattentive parents who move constantly from city to city, he's learned not to get tangled up in things like friends and relationships. So he'll just keep living like a machine, all gears and wires.

Then two things shatter his carefully-built image: Emma, the kind, stubborn girl who insists on looking beneath the surface - and the small matter of a mirror reflection that starts moving by itself. Not only does Brandon's reflection have a mind of its own, but it seems to be grooming him for something--washing the dye from his hair, yanking out his piercings, swapping his black shirts for … pastels. Then it tells him: it thinks it can live his life better, and it's preparing to trade places.

And when it pulls Brandon through the looking-glass, not only will he need all his ill-gotten hacking skills to escape, but he's going to have to face some hard truths about who he's become. Otherwise he'll be stuck in a digital hell until he's old and gray, and Emma and his parents won't even know he's gone.

Huffington Post lists N. K. Traver's Duplicity as part of one of the great YA book trends to look for in 2015 --don't miss it!

As far as this novel goes, Duplicity starts of with a bang and grabbed my attention immediately! I liked the leading character of Brandon a lot. He's moved around a lot due to his parents having to move because of their own career ambitions... Brandon's parents aren't the most attentive parents in the world. Their careers come first and Brandon comes a distant second. So, Brandon acts out by getting piercings, tattoos, dyeing his hair, computer hacking, etc. Brandon's computer hacking crimes come back to haunt him in a BIG way!The middle part of Duplicity was a bit slow for me. Brandon is eventually caught for his hacking crimes and is placed in 'digital hell'... I found reading about Brandon's time in the digital realm a tad dull for me. While Brandon is in so called 'digital hell', I had a difficult time trying to figure out who the character of Seb really was at first... But that was answered as the story moves forward.The last one third of Duplicity picks up again and left me wondering how the story was going to end. I liked the ending of Duplicity a lot... The author really ties things up nicely. The way in which Duplicity ends, leaves me if there will be a sequel to Duplicity?!?! I certainly hope there will be a sequel to Duplicity. I liked not only Brandon's character, but Emma's character as well... Perhaps we can see the two of them in their college years and working together as a team in overthrowing the 'Project' in the next novel!I'm giving Duplicity by N. K. Traver a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

I love reading cozy mystery novels and novellas! So, when I came across the free eBook version of Murdering the Roses by Cindy Bell on Amazon, I downloaded it to my Kindle immediately. Murdering the Roses is the first book in the Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery series and it is approximately 131 pages in length. Below is my honest opinion/review of Murdering the Roses by Cindy Bell.I thought Murdering the Roses by Cindy Bell wasn't all that great. In fact, it was just an okay read. It was pretty easy to predict who the victim was going to be and who the murderer was early on in this novella. The sheriff is an idiot and a know it all... No law enforcement personnel would be that rude and unprofessional as the sheriff is in this novella. The leading character, Vicky, and her eccentric, Aunt Ida, get themselves into some sticky situations and could have easily gotten themselves killed... As a side note, Aunt Ida is a really annoying character. Murdering the Roses just didn't do much to wow me. I will NOT be reading any of the other titles in the Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery series.The following is a book summary for Murdering the Roses by Cindy Bell from Amazon's website:

Everything is finally starting to come together for Vicky. She is moving on from the tragic death of her parents four years ago. There is hope of a romantic relationship with handsome Deputy Sheriff Mitchell Slate and she is enjoying running the grand, old inn with her sister and her Aunt Ida.But then, Vicky finds the murdered body of the inn’s gardener. The inn has a wedding booked for the weekend so her wacky Aunt Ida ropes her into investigating the murder. It is a race against the clock to solve the murder so the wedding can go ahead as planned. This puts Vicky and Aunt Ida right in the line of danger.Will Vicky and Aunt Ida be able to stay safe and solve the murder in time? Will the relationship between Deputy Sheriff Mitchell and Vicky blossom or will the mean, by-the-book Sheriff McDonnell stand in their way?

I'm giving Murdering the Roses by Cindy Bell a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.Until my next post, happy reading!!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.I miss living near the beach!! If I still lived within walking distance of the beach, I'd have the following ten books from my mountainous 'to be read' pile in my beach bag: Naked In Death by J. D. RobbThe Thirteen Problems by Agatha ChristieGilt by Association by Tamar MyersBaroque and Desperation by Tamar MyersDeath of a Rug Lord by Tamar MyersBruja Brouhaha by Rochelle StaabMurder is Binding by Lorna BarrettPepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder by Chris CavenderWhatdunits by Mike Resnick (Editor)

The Black Box by Michael Connelly

Whether I actually read the above books this summer remains to be seen!! I'll most likely end up reading other books.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Yesterday, my hubby and I spent another half day in San Francisco!! We once again rode BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into downtown San Francisco. This time we spent our half day along the waterfront. The main highlight of our visit to San Francisco was visiting the Ferry Building Marketplace, which was a blast to visit despite the weekend/holiday crowds. I loved seeing all the various food stalls and restaurants inside the Ferry Building Marketplace that one can choose from to eat at during one's visit.During our visit, I was thrilled to visit an independent bookstore inside the Ferry Building Marketplace called Book Passage. I really enjoyed this small, but busy bookstore with lots of fun book titles for sale. I also enjoyed reading the book recommendations for various book titles displayed around the Book Passage store front.Book Passage has some amazing sounding author events/book signings. I'd like to attend one or more of these events in the future.Until my next post, happy reading!

I am relatively new to the flash fiction genre, so was excited to receive and read Ms. Berg's collection of flash fiction!

I did like the fact that Coffee House Lies: 100 Cups of Flash Fiction does contain 100 flash fiction stories. The stories do cover a wide range of topics and do make for interesting reading. I enjoyed 27 of the stories very much. The rest of the stories were either okay stories, ones I didn't like at all or ones that I didn't quite fully understand.

The following is a description/summary of Coffee House Lies: 100 Cups of Flash Fictionby Carly Berg from the Goodreads website:

These fun-sized stories are just right for a coffee break, public commute, waiting room, bedtime story, or any other time you want a quick trip without leaving the farm.The 100 stories in this quirky collection range from a few sentences to a few pages. Included are stories nominated for the 2013 Pushcart Prize, Micro Award, and Wigleaf Long List. Nearly all of them have been published before individually, in numerous print and online magazines and anthologies.Tales vary from realistic to humorous to surreal, and family-friendly to adult. Repeating themes include: people-as-animals, people losing themselves and finding themselves (and sometimes wishing they hadn't), childhood in the psychedelic seventies, reality TV, marriage, twisted religion, and of course the gotta have 'em he-done-me wrongs. Enjoy!

I'm givingCoffee House Lies: 100 Cups of Flash Fiction by Carly Berg a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars. I liked this book, but I didn't love it! If you're a flash fiction fan, this just may be the book for you!Until my next post, happy reading!!

Saturday, May 23, 2015

It was my birthday a few days ago and I thrilled to receive an Amazon Gift Card from my cousin. My first thought, of course, was which books I would buy with my gift card as I have a wishlist a mile long.After much angst about which books I would or would not purchase through Amazon, I'm now considering NOT buying any books at all with my Amazon Gift Card! Yes, I know, a 180 degree change of mind... I just can't imagine not buying more books as I love them and I do love reading books. But, and this is a BIG BUT, I have soooo many physical books, audiobooks on compact disc, Audible audiobooks, and ebooks on my Kindle waiting to be read, that I can't imagine adding more books to my collection right now. I'm actually on book overload as it is right, which is something I never thought I'd actually every say. So, at the moment, adding more books to my book collection seems like overkill to me. Instead, I think I'll use my Amazon Gift Card for some non-book related items!!I guess the big question I have for my blog readers is the following one. If you received an Amazon Gift Card, would use it to still buy more books, even though you already have a gazillion books on hand? Or would you use it to purchase something else instead?

Friday, May 22, 2015

Friday Finds is a book meme hosted by Jenn at A Daily Rhythm. Friday Finds is a chance to share and show off the books you discovered during the week and would like to add to your reading list...Or a place to simply feature the books you've actually purchased throughout the week and have added to your to be read pile!

First off, let me add that I am pretty new to the steampunk genre and haven't read all that many books, novellas, or short stories from this genre. With that said, I'd say that The Novelty Maker is my favorite steampunk read to date. I really enjoyed Sasha L. Miller's writing, her storytelling, the characters and the story itself when it came to The Novelty Maker. This is a fun romance read. I hope you decide to read it for yourself.The following is a summary of The Novelty Maker by Sasha L. Miller from Amazon's website:

As often as he can possibly manage, Cole slips away from the parties and teas inflicted upon him by his mother to visit Harlowe, the brilliant, mercurial novelty maker he met several months ago when commissioning a piece for his mother. Overwhelmed with work, and preferring to avoid people, Harlowe is not an easy person to know, and Cole values too much their hard-won friendship to ever risk it by telling Harlowe of his true feelings. Then Harlowe begins to receive letters from a secret admirer …

Note that this book is a free read offered by Less Than Three Press. We are working to price match this book to the $0.00 price offered at other retail locations. All proceeds from this book before Amazon matches the price will be donated to The Point Foundation, an LGBT scholarship foundation that provides financial support to at-risk gay and lesbian students.

I'm giving The Novelty Maker by Sasha L. Miller a rating of 7 stars out of 10 stars.Until my next post, happy reading!!

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Fidelity by Thomas Perry and narrated by Michael Kramer. Playing time is approximately 11 hours.First off, Michael Kramer has a wonderful voice for narration, but I felt he narrated Fidelity rather flatly for the most part.As far as Fidelity itself goes, I really enjoyed this novel! This was my first experience with anything written by Thomas Perry and I wouldn't mind reading or listening to another novel written by him in the future.What did I like about Fidelity but Thomas Perry? I liked the story, the characters, how the story unfolded, and that the ending wasn't as predictable as I thought it was going to be. I like the way Mr. Perry tells a story.

The following is a publisher's summary for Fidelity by Thomas Perry from Audible.

When Phil Kramer is shot dead on a deserted suburban street in the middle of the night, his wife, Emily, is left with an emptied bank account and a lot of questions. How could Phil leave her penniless? What was he going to do with the money? And, most of all, who was he if he wasn't the man she thought she married?

Jerry Hobart has some questions of his own. It's none of his business why he was hired to kill Phil Kramer. But now that he's been ordered to take out Kramer's widow, he figures there's a bigger secret at work---and maybe a bigger payoff.

As they race to find the secret Phil Kramer so masterfully hid, both Hobart and Emily must question where their true loyalties lie and how much they owe those who have been unfaithful to them. In Fidelity, Thomas Perry delivers another riveting thriller.

I am giving Fidelity by Thomas Perry a rating of 8 stars out of 10 stars.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.Every so often one comes across some pretty sexy fictional male characters that would make great "book boyfriends"... Below is my list of fictional male characters that I wouldn't mind having as one of my book boyfriends!

1. Jamie Fraser from the Outlander series2. Roarke from J. D. Robb's In Death series

3. Ivan Markovic from the Her Russian Protector series4. Jared Strickland from the Island Trilogy

5. Stone Wilder from Instant Gratification

6. Ellis Cutler from Falling Awake

7. T. J. Wilder from Instant Temptation8. David Hawthorne from The Girl Who Stopped Swimming9. Dominic O'Sullivan from the Seal Island Trilogy10. Marco Salvare from A Flower Shop Series

Monday, May 18, 2015

Last weekend, I was beyond thrilled about visiting an independent bookstore in downtown San Francisco called the Alexander Book Company with my husband!! I love independent bookstores and the Alexander Book Company is a three story bookstore located within walking distance from the Montgomery BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Station. This makes visiting The Alexander Book Company a perfect place to visit when you want to be car free in San Francisco and not have to do a lot of walking.My husband & I initially meant to ride BART into San Francisco on May 2nd and visit the Alexander Book Company for California Independent Bookstore Day, but I was sick with a cold. So, we had to postpone our visit until Saturday, May 16th... It most definitely was worth the short delay in our visit to the Alexander Book Company!! The Alexander Book Company is an awesome bookstore that we plan to visit again soon. I love the layout of the Alexander Book Company, how the books are shelved and arranged, the entire decor of this bookstore and its uniqueness... There's an assortment of books for every interest and comfy places to sit and peruse books to your heart's content. There are also a large number of remaindered books and publisher returns for sale at good discounts too. The staff member we encountered during our visit was friendly and helpful, which is always a perk... I love good customer service no matter where I shop! The Alexander Book Company also offers a Frequent Buyer Program, which is an awesome way to save money on one's book buying addiction. According to the Alexander's Book Company website, the Frequent Buyer Program "works for every ten non-discounted books you purchase, you'll receive an award for 10% back of those last ten books you purchased." Pretty cool program, right?The Alexander Book Company is a darn near perfect bookstore to visit. I only wish that the Alexander Book Company offered author events/book signings. Wouldn't that be awesome if they did?? Until my next post, happy reading!!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Yesterday was the last day of the Bout of Book 13.0 Read-A-Thon. It wasn't a stellar day of reading. But I did listen to approximately 2 more hours of the audiobook, Fidelity by Thomas Perry, today, but haven't finished it yet.I participated in a total of three read-a-thon challenges --- the Bookish Survey hosted by Writing My Own Fairytale, the Book Haiku hosted by Kristina Horner, and From Modern to Classic hosted by Ranty Runt of a Reader. The following is my reading stats during the Bout of Book 13.0 Read-A-Thon:I started and finished the following books during the read-a-thon:1. The Novelty Maker by Sasha L. Miller (short story)2. Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann (abridged audiobook novel)I started, but haven't finished the following two books: Fidelity by Thomas Perry (unabridged audiobook novel) ~~~ I'm only 66% into this novel.Prior to the read-a-thon, I'd started reading Duplicity by N. K. Traver (ARC Paperback)~~~ I only read 33 pages of this novel during the past week.And I finished the following audiobook that I began reading prior to Bout of Book 13.0 Read-A-Thon titled:Innocent In Death by J. D. Robb (unabridged audiobook novel)I am happy with what I read this past week even if I didn't stick to my initial reading goals in my sign-up post.I hope you're enjoyed the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon as much as I did!!

Today was the sixth day of participation in the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon!! It wasn't a great day of reading for me as I spent half the day in San Francisco, California with my hubby having way too much fun. While in San Francisco, we visited the Alexander Book Company, which is a fabulous three story bookstore in downtown San Francisco. I'll be reviewing this bookstore in a few days. I did manage to read while riding on BART during the 50 minute ride from home to downtown San Francisco. And also on the return journey home. I read 33 pages of Duplicity by N. K. Traver while riding on BART. I also finished reading a 53 page short story titled The Novelty Maker by Sasha L. Miller. So I read a total of 86 pages yesterday.I've also participated in a total of three read-a-thon challenges at this point as well --- the Bookish Survey hosted by Writing My Own Fairytale, the Book Haiku hosted by Kristina Horner, and From Modern to Classic hosted by Ranty Runt of a Reader.

Happy reading!! I hope you're enjoying the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon as much as I am.

Last week, I participated in the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon, which was a blast. I always have fun participating in this read-a-thon. One of the read-a-thon challenges was the titled From Modern To Classic and is hosted by Ranty Runt of A Reader. The goal of the challenge was to share one book that you believe will be considered a classic in 100 years time and to provide two reasons for why this book will be a classic. The only other prerequisite is that the modern book must be published after 2005.I thought this was an interesting question to ask readers, because who doesn't wonder which current books today will become classics in 100 years??Below was my response for the From Modern to Classic read-a-thon challenge:I've decided to be BOLD & DARING with my book selection for this read-a-thon challenge and nominate Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee. Yes, I realize that Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee will not be published until July of this year, but my prediction is that it will become an instant classic that people will be reading a 100 years from now.Why do I feel this way?The first reason is that To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is already a beloved American classic. I think people are going to want to continue reading this novel in the years to come. Readers will also want to read Harper Lee's second published novel to see what Scout is like as an adult. The second reason is that Harper Lee is an amazing writer, who has written about important political and societal topics that are still relevant today. For this reason I think that Go Set A Watchman will become a classic like To Kill A Mockingbird in 100 years.

So now I am turning the tables and posing the same question to you!! Which modern day book (published after 2005) do you think will be a classic a 100 years from now? Tell me why you think the book you've chosen will be come a classic.

There are some pretty great local and independent bookstores already — just look at places like Powell’s and The Strand, for instance. But we’ve seen and read about some truly amazing ones. I don’t know about you, but I can’t read or watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretswithout wishing for a Flourish and Blott’s of my own to shop in — even if it’s just to look! Same goes for You’ve Got Mail — I know it’s about a small neighborhood bookstore being crushed by a huge competitor, but I root for Meg Ryan every time anyway, despite knowing the ending.

There’s just something about these fictional bookstores that never fails to make me wish I could visit them myself. The sheer size of them, the book-loving owners, the stories they hold within them — everything, really. Here are 10 of the best fictional shops I wish I could get lost in for an afternoon — or maybe a little longer.

Yesterday, was the fourth day of participation in the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon!! It was a decent day of reading for me overall. I began listening to the audio version of Fidelity by Thomas Perry yesterday and am now a third of the way into it.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Welcome to four of the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon! Today I look forward to participating in another fun read-a-thon challenge. Today's read-a-thon challenge is titled From Modern To Classic and is hosted by Ranty Runt of A Reader.The rules for this challenge and how to enter are as follows:

THE CHALLENGE Share one book that you believe will be considered a classic in 100 years time. Simple? I do have a few caveats, the book must have been published in or after 2005 and you need to provide two reasons for why this book will be a classic.

HOW TO ENTER You can enter this competition on any platform, including posts on your blog, on twitter, facebook, goodreads or in the comments of this blog post. Include a link to the entry in your comment. Also, make sure the post is public, so I can check out your awesome answers!

Below is my response for the From Modern to Classic read-a-thon challenge:I've decided to be BOLD & DARING with my book selection for this read-a-thon challenge and nominate Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee. Yes, I realize that Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee will not be published until July of this year, but my prediction is that it will become an instant classic that people will be reading a 100 years from now.Why do I feel this way?The first reason is that To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is already a beloved American classic. I think people are going to want to continue reading this novel in the years to come. Readers will also want to read Harper Lee's second published novel to see what Scout is like as an adult. The second reason is that Harper Lee is an amazing writer, who has written about important political and societal topics that are still relevant today. For this reason I think that Go Set A Watchman will become a classic like To Kill A Mockingbird in 100 years.What do your thoughts? Will Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee live up to the anticipated hype and become an instant classic or not?

Yesterday, was the third day of participation in the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon!! It was a great day of reading for me overall. I finished listening to and also reviewing Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann. At this point in the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon, I've listened to a total of two books so far!

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

I recently listened to the abridged audio version of Hot Target (Troubleshooters Series #8) by Suzanne Brockmann and narrated by Melanie Ewbank and Patrick Lawlor. I really liked Hot Target more than I thought I would. It was the first novel I've read or rather listened to by Suzanne Brockman, so I wasn't sure what to expect from her writing. The storyline and characters of Hot Target sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a shot. I really enjoyed the well developed, likable characters in Hot Target, especially the main characters of producer Jane Chadwick, her brother, Robin Chadwick, FBI Agent Jules Cassidy, and Navy Seal Cosmo Richter. The storyline of Hot Target is also very good one... It's fun, entertaining, and engaging!! I must say that Suzanne Brockmann is quite a good writer and wouldn't mind reading another novel by Suzanne Brockmann in the Troubleshooters Series.I'm not sure that I liked listening to two narrators for this novel. I think sticking to one narrator would have been perfectly fine. As far as narrators go, I thought Melanie Ewbanks was alright -- Not good, nor bad, just middle of the road. As far as Patrick Lawlor goes, I initially thought he narration for Hot Target too fast, but eventually his narration grew on me and I eventually liked his narration of Hot Target quite a bit.The following is a book summary for Hot Target from the the Amazon website:

Known for her adrenaline-laced Navy SEAL romances, Brockmann displays a new, more political side in this brisk but bumpy romantic thriller, which advocates gay rights. Though the book follows the exploits of sexy, silent Cosmo Richter, the man of mystery from Brockmann's earlier romances (Gone Too Far, etc.), Cosmo must share the limelight with Jules Cassidy, a gay FBI agent and also a recurring character in Brockmann's books. Both Cosmo and Jules are charged with safeguarding hot Hollywood producer Jane Chadwick, who has come under fire (literally) for making a movie dealing with two gay war heroes. A few contrived plot twists find Cosmo and Jane initially butting heads, then coming together as friends and finally burning up the sheets as lovers. More compelling is Jules's struggle to stay away from his egocentric ex, an actor who conveniently lands a starring role in Jane's film, and from Jane's brother Robin, who's so deep in the closet that he has turned to drink. At times, Brockmann goes too far in pushing her agenda—even Cosmo is a card-carrying member of PFLAG who, thanks to his gay father, "can name every Barbara Streisand album ever made"—and readers won't need second sight to foresee the story's twists. Still, Brockmann's uncanny ability to give each character an authentic voice and dialogue to match will pull readers through this shaky installment.

I'm excited about participating in the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon!! Today is day three of the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon and I've decided to participate in the read-a-thon challenge, which is to write a book haiku. The only rules for this challenge are to write a haiku about whatever book you’re reading currently and then share your haiku on the host's website.I'm currently listening to an audiobook titled Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann. Below are my two Book Haikus for Hot Target:

Navy Seal, Cosmo

Is sent to guard producer,

Mercedes, from harm...

Will they fall in love?

Only time will tell if these

Two hotties connect

Thank you to Kristina Horner for hosting this particular read-a-thon challenge!

Yesterday, was the second day of the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon!! It was a fairly decent day of reading for me overall. I started listening to the abridged audio version of Hot Target (Troubleshooters Series #8) by Suzanne Brockmann and narrated by Melanie Ewbank and Patrick Lawlor. I am halfway into Hot Target and am enjoying it so far. I am hoping to finish listening to it on Day 3!!

How did your second day of reading go for the Bout of Books 13.0 Read-A-Thon??

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.This is an easy topic for me this week, as my Top Ten Tuesday post for Tuesday, January 20, 2015 addressed this topic!!1. Lissa RankinMD --- I read Lissa Rankin's nonfiction book Mind Over Medicine and loved this book! I follow her on Facebook and am inspired by her passion for what she does. I would so love to meet Dr. Rankin in person at a speaking engagement or lecture she is giving.

2. Margaret Atwood --- I'm a longtime fan of Atwood's works. She's a fabulous writer and I would love to meet this amazing woman in person some day!3. Diana Gabaldon --- I first discovered Gabaldon's novels from my maternal grandmother, who is also an Outlander Fan. I've read several of her novels and have even listened to podcasts she's done. It would be fun to meet her in person.4. Jerry Spinelli --- Okay, I was first introduced to Jerry Spinelli's novels by a former college professor... I read Stargirl and was instantly hooked on Jerry Spinelli's writing and have read several more books since then.5. Geraldine Brooks --- I've also been a longtime fan of Geraldine Brooks's novels. She's a fabulous writer and would love to meet this amazing writer in person some day!6. Tamar Myers --- I've almost read the entire Den of Antiquity Mystery Series, so would love to meet the author behind this cozy mystery series. I find the novels in this series have quite a bit of humor in them, so one assumes the author is quite witty herself in real life as well...There are also some other questions I'd love to ask Ms. Myers regarding the Den of Antiquity Mystery Series!!7. Amy Stewart *** --- I read both Wicked Plants and Wicked Bugs. I loved reading both of these nonfiction books!! They are filled with so many interesting facts about plants and bugs that I never knew before. Who knew that reading about plants and bugs could be so much fun?8. Sherman Alexie --- I've only read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Alexie, but it is really well written and gave me a whole new perspective on the Native American experience from the point of view of a teenage male.9. Robin LaFevers --- I loved reading the His Fair Assassin trilogy!10. Garth Stein *** --- The Art of Racing in the Rain became my favorite read for 2013. This novel is really well written and had me in tears while reading certain scenes. One of the leading characters is a dog... I love dogs, so this novel really touched my soul. My oldest dog, Roxy, past away last November and I'm once again reminded of The Art of Racing in the Rain. If you've read this novel, you'll know what I mean.*** Exciting news, I actually was able to briefly meet Garth Stein at an author event/book signing event at a local, indie bookstore on Friday, March 6, 2015 at Town Center Books in Pleasanton, California! Check out my blog post regarding this fun author/book signing event.I was also able to briefly meet Amy Stewart at the Bay Area Book Festival on Sunday, June 7 2015!! Check out my review of time spend at the Bay Area Book Festival.Which authors would you like to meet in person?

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Welcome to my book blog, Captivated Reader!! I hope you enjoy reading my posts. Please feel free to leave me relevant comments on my blog posts. Happy reading!!
~As an FYI to my blog readers, I DO NOT make money when promoting book blasts. I only share books on my blog that I think readers make enjoy reading themselves. Nor to I belong to any affiliates programs.~